The Half-Wolf's Choice

Chapter 7: Welcome to Moonveil Manor

Everything hurt even though there were no wounds or scars left on my body. It was so strange to watch them disappear before my very eyes. By the time the woman brought me to Cayden’s study the last bruise on my face vanished.

I was still pissed at the woman though. She hadn’t said a word since we left the woods and regarded me with a scowl every time I saw her looking at me. I tried to ignore her while also dealing with the apprehension of coming face to face with Cayden now that I knew what he was.

Had I made the right decision? I had no reference to determine if he was the better option over Marcus Silas other than my instinct. Considering what I now was, a beast, perhaps it was the best call to trust my gut.

I tried to commune with the wolf in my head, but there had been no further bestial words from her. I suspected she had not appreciated me mentally locking her in a figurative basement.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Alice,” Cayden announced coolly as he entered his study and took a seat on the corner of the desk.

It was disconcerting to see him sitting like that while I was in a chair. The height difference gave physical manifestation to the power imbalance between us. And I was sure he knew it.

“You are the boss,” I uttered, trying not to betray my nerves.

“That, I am. Although manners is always important, especially towards your guests. I’m certain you never kept clients or guests waiting when you ran Fairfox Enterprises.”

I felt a knot in my throat. “You did your research on me.”

“My line of work requires me to know who I bring into my home.”

And what is your line of work exactly; crime boss or werewolf overlord?” I asked.

Cayden smirked but didn’t answer.

“I trust that Catherine wasn’t too harsh with you; my little sister can be rather aggressive at times.” He changed the subject and glanced at the woman with scrutiny.

“Sister?” That explained why she looked familiar,they resembled each other quite strongly.

“Yes. I assume from your reaction that she didn’t bother introducing herself. This is my younger sister, Catherine.”

Catherine barely looked at me.

“Now,” Cayden continued, “Did she treat you harshly?”

“I’m not sure what constitutes ‘harsh’ between werewolves,” I say firmly, “But I have no bruises left so I guess I shouldn’t complain.”

Cayden’s features turned into a scowl and Catherine scowled back. The tension in the room could be cut with a blade of grass. It was as though they were having a telepathic conversation…or more likely an argument.

“Leave us, Catherine. I would like to speak to our new charge in private.”

The younger Veil huffed but left the room without a word. And then it was just me and the most notorious crime lord in the entire valley. Alone in his study.

“I’m sorry about her; I have to be very precise when giving her orders and I didn’t specify how she should treat you quite as intricately as I had hoped I did.

However, now that we are finally face to face, you can ask me any question you would like answered, I am sure you have many.”

Many? I was burning with questions! My head swirled and my world felt tilted and distorted. Half of it had to do with the fact that I was no longer human. The other half had to do with the man in front of me. Something about him was different from Silas, Catherine, or any of the others I encountered. There was an odd…sweetness to his scent. That was the only way I could describe it.

And when I looked into his eyes I couldn’t look for too long. If I did, I knew I would never be able to look away.

“Marcus Silas told me that he bit me…I’m guessing that explains why I’m like you now.”

Cayden nodded. “More precisely; he bit you under a full moon.”

“Why? Why would he make me like this? What could he possibly hope to gain from me?” My voice shook and my throat knotted. I had to pull myself together; the last thing I wanted was to start bawling in front of him.

“I don’t think he meant to bite you if I’m being completely honest,” Cayden said softly. “The combination of the full moon and the heat of battle, Silas’s wolf probably sensed you as prey and just…reacted.”

“And now I’m just supposed to be his property?”

“Half-breeds generally are to those who bite them.”

“Half-breed? What does that even mean?” My eyes were stinging now. The way he spoke so calmly about the event that turned my life upside down was so infuriating.

“Silas called me that, and so did Catherine. I’m guessing it’s not a term of endearment or a sign of respect.”

Cayden’s smile vanished. His expression was…unreadable.

“It simply means that you were not born like us. Your powers are limited compared to ours due to the fact that human blood still lingers in your veins. Most born wolves tend to be proud and look down upon the bitten.”

“Great! Racism as well as fights to the death; I’m so excited.”

I felt the urge to run again, to get as far away from here as possible. But I needed to get as much information about Cayden first, I needed to know what I was up against.

“How does it work…the gangs - I mean, packs - how does it all work?” I asked.

“It works pretty much how you’d expect it to if you know anything about ordinary wolves,” his smile returned. “There’s a hierarchy within a pack with the Alpha at the head. We have territories which we control and those territories are often contested by other packs.”

“Like Hallowhart? Silas’s gang- I mean, pack.”

“Exactly. Most towns and settlements in Mercury Valley are owned, run, or are influenced by a werewolf pack. Before it used to be that packs operated entirely in the shadows, but once our presence became known humans simply thought we were gangs and crime syndicates. So we went with that.”

“So Marlow is controlled by you, the Moonveil pack. And Hollowton is controlled by the Hallowhart pack.”

“Precisely. And it’s with the Hallowharts and Marcus Silas that my pack has the most trouble with,” Cayden stood up and went to pour two glasses from the decanter of liquor. The smell of the strong liquid made my eyes water.

“You’ll get used to it eventually,” he said, noticing my reaction as he handed me a glass.

I took a sip and welcomed the burning sensation down my throat. It was the first thing that actually felt real since all this madness began.

“And all this fighting -” I cough slightly, “- this us all for territory?”

“Territory, money, access to resources and drug markets.”

That took me a bit by surprise.

“I didn't think werewolves would have a hand in the drug trade, it seems…mundane.”

Cayden’s lips curved with amusement.

“We have to keep appearances to humans. Also it's not only the drugs you’re thinking of; this area is home to a plethora of magical narcotics and ingredients that Silas would love to control.”

“So in the end…you really are just gangsters…only supernatural and furry,” I spit out.

“Furry and deadly. But more or less how you described,” he chuckled.

“How many packs are there?”

“In the world…perhaps hundreds of thousands.”

“I meant here in Mercury Valley.”

“There are nine towns in Mercury Valley; seven of which are controlled by wolves.” Cayden explained.

“Seven,” my mouth went dry. “And the other two?”

“Silverton has a population of entirely witches; they don’t allow any other species to live there. And Fellworth has a small vampire clan running the show.”

Werewolves. Witches. Vampires. There was nowhere near that was safe. I had to leave Mercury Valley entirely and do it without anyone noticing.

Or I could stay and somehow find a way to navigate all this madness.

Could I do that? Just fully embrace this new reality. I would be under the thumb of Cayden if I did. Would that be so bad though?

‘Yes it would!’ my voice of reason yelled.

‘But he’s so kind,’ said another voice, ‘and he’s strong and handsome…’

‘And dangerous!’

My wolf’s howl then added to the inner turmoil of voices. Though I had no idea what she meant through her use of broken words.

‘Stay…Fate….Stay….Fated,’ she sounded like a puppy begging for her owner to not go to work.

‘I don’t understand what you mean,’ I thought to her. The wolf whined and growled in frustration.

I felt Cayden’s gaze upon me as he drained his glass.

“Is there anything else you wanted clarified? Because I have a meeting in about twenty minutes.”

I ground my teeth. His charm was one thing, a natural allure that I found myself drawn to…but then his arrogance boiled my blood and irritated my skin. I could feel something itching right under the surface.

“One more question; what happens to me now? You and Silas both said that the Bitten belongs to the pack whose Alpha bit them…and yet I’m here with you. You went out of your way to rescue me from Silas…twice. Why?”

“Two reasons. One: Silas bit you, a human who lives in my territory while he was trespassing on my territory. That makes the claim on you a bit muddy in my opinion..

“And as for the other reason…Keeping you away from him is simply a show of strength. A power move if you will.”

I got to my feet with my fists clenched. I could feel my skin turning red from rage.

“I don’t belong to either of you! And neither am I a pawn in whatever pissing match you have going on with Marcus Silas! I’m going to go home and live my life the way I want to.”

I grabbed my coat off the chair and glared at Cayden, daring him to try and stop me.

But he made no move. He only chuckled like I was a child throwing a tantrum.

“You’re free to go, Alice Fairfox. It must be some life you have; slinging drinks all day for minimum wage…such a shame. You used to be so much more before you lost everything.”

I don’t know what came over me. I never liked violence or fighting. I never fought anyone unless it was self-defense.

But seeing his smug face, hearing him bring up my past and all I had lost, after all that happened in the last few days…I snapped.

There’s a rumble in my throat, a bestial growl. My vision blurs and all I see is red and Cayden. I scream…no…I roar, and lunge at him with every intent to rip out his throat.